Real time monitoring of ship cargo

ABSTRACT

Remote monitoring and control of the interior environment of a refrigerated shipping container is described. A communications and monitoring device is coupled to a data communications port of a controller of a shipping container. The device is able to receive an operational parameter directly from the controller, without having to install additional instrumentation within the interior of the refrigerated shipping container, and send the operational parameter to a remote station. The device is also able to receive data to control the operation of the refrigerated shipping container from a remote station and send this control data to the controller of the refrigerated shipping container through the data communications port.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/044,398, entitled “REAL TIME MONITORING OF SHIP CARGO,” filed on Mar.9, 2011, which is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of U.S.Patent Application No. 61/312,632, entitled “REAL TIME MONITORING OFSHIP CARGO” filed on Mar. 10, 2010, the disclosures of which are allincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The use of standardized modular shipping containers has revolutionizedthe shipping industry. Modular shipping containers, often referred to asintermodal containers, freight containers, or simply containers, arereusable containers that can be used to ship products or raw materialsfrom one location to another. Containers may be referred to asintermodal because the container may travel using many different modesof transit. For example, containers may travel by ship, rail, road, orany combination thereof.

The containers are made of a durable material, such as metal, in orderto provide a reusable container that can withstand the harsh conditionsassociated with shipping. Containers are typically available in severalstandardized sizes. Several popular sizes of containers include 20, 40,and 53 foot versions. Typically, the exact size and form factors of acontainer are defined by a standards setting organization, such asInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO), TransitInternational Routier (TIR), Association of American Railroads (AAR)Standards, etc. Because the containers come in standard sizes, thecomplexity in handling the containers is greatly reduced. For example, acrane or forklift used to maneuver a container no longer needs to beadjusted to engage different size containers. The handling apparatus canbe optimized to operate on a limited number of standardized sizes ofcontainers.

Because the sizes of containers may be standardized across multiplemodes of transport, there is no longer a need to unload and reload cargofrom a container when the mode of transport changes. A standardizedcontainer may arrive via ship, be loaded onto a train, and then bedelivered to a final destination via a truck. Throughout this process,the cargo within the container need never be removed from the container.Because the containers come in standard sizes, each of the modes oftransport can be designed to operate with standard sized containers.

Specialized modular shipping containers exist for many different typesof cargo. For example, tank containers exist for transporting liquids.Although the container may be specialized to hold a specific type ofcargo, it should be understood that the overall size and form factor ofthe specialized container remains the same as a non-specializedcontainer. The container handling equipment therefore need not beadjusted when dealing with specialized containers. From the perspectiveof the container handling equipment, all containers are handled exactlythe same way, regardless of the type of cargo within the container.

Another example of a specialized container is a refrigerated shippingcontainer, often times referred to as a reefer container, or simply areefer. Reefers, as implied by the name, are used in situations wherethe cargo must be maintained at a specific temperature and/or humidity,the temperature usually being colder than the ambient temperature. Insome cases, the required temperature may be higher than the ambienttemperature. In either case, the term reefer, as used in the disclosure,will refer to a temperature and/or humidity controlled container,regardless of the container being heated or cooled.

Reefers, just as with all modularized containers, are designed to fitthe size and form factors as defined by the standards organizations.Thus, reefers can be manipulated with the same handling equipment usedto move normal containers. However, reefers present additionalchallenges that are not present with standard containers. For example,cargo being shipped in a reefer generally needs to be maintained withina specific range of temperature and/or humidity. If the temperatureand/or humidity is out of range, even for a short period of time, thecargo may become unusable. For example, food products that are beingshipped within a reefer may spoil if the temperature exceeds a definedthreshold.

Therefore, there is a need to ensure that a reefer container maintains atemperature and/or humidity within a specified range for the duration ofthe reefer container's journey. Any anomalous variations in thetemperature and/or humidity range within a container should be addressedas quickly as possible to prevent damage to the reefer container'scargo. Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems,individually and collectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Remote monitoring and control of the interior environment of arefrigerated shipping container is described. A communications andmonitoring device is coupled to a data communications port of acontroller of a refrigerated shipping container. The device is able toreceive environmental data directly from the controller, without havingto install additional instrumentation within the interior of therefrigerated shipping container, and send the environmental data to aremote station. The device is also able to receive data to control theoperation of the refrigerated shipping container from a remote stationand send this control data to the controller of the refrigeratedshipping container through the data communications port.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for communicating with a refrigeratedshipping container is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise: a powerinterface coupled to a power source to provide electrical power to theapparatus; a data interface coupled to a data communications port on therefrigerated shipping container configured to communicate with acontroller of the refrigerated shipping container; a communicationsinterface coupled to a transmitter; and a control circuit configured toreceive power from the power interface, receive data associated with therefrigerated shipping container from the data interface, and transmitthe data associated with the refrigerated shipping container using thecommunications interface.

In one aspect the data associated with the refrigerated shippingcontainer includes an internal temperature of the refrigerated shippingcontainer. In another aspect, the data associated with the refrigeratedshipping container includes other operational parameters associated withthe refrigerated shipping container. In a further aspect, the powersource coupled to the power interface also provides electrical power tothe refrigerated shipping container.

In a further aspect, the apparatus may comprise: the communicationsinterface coupled to a receiver; and the control circuit furtherconfigured to receive, from the communications interface, control datato alter the operation of the controller of the refrigerated shippingcontainer and transmit the control data to the controller of therefrigerated shipping container through the data interface. In oneaspect, the transmitter is a satellite transmitter. In a further aspect,the data associated with the refrigerated shipping container is receivedfrom the controller of the refrigerated shipping container and isreceived through the data interface. In a further aspect, the apparatusis physically isolated from an interior cargo portion of therefrigerated shipping container. In yet another aspect, the internaltemperature of the refrigerated shipping container is measured by thecontroller of the refrigerated shipping container.

In yet another aspect, the control circuit further configured to:identify a communications protocol used by the controller of therefrigerated shipping container; and communicate with the controller ofthe refrigerated shipping container through the data interface using theidentified communications protocol.

In another embodiment, a method for communicating with a refrigeratedshipping container is disclosed. The method may comprise: receiving dataassociated with the refrigerated shipping container from a controller ofthe refrigerated shipping container; determining, with a processor, ifthe data associated with the refrigerated container should betransmitted to a receiving station; and transmitting the data associatedwith the refrigerated shipping container to the receiving station basedon the determination.

In one aspect, the step of determining if the data associated with therefrigerated container should be transmitted comprises: determining ifit is time for periodic reporting. In another aspect, the step ofdetermining if the data associated with the refrigerated containershould be transmitted comprises: determining if the data associated withthe refrigerated container is outside a pre-defined range. In oneaspect, the data associated with the refrigerated shipping containerincludes an internal temperature of the refrigerated shipping container.In another aspect, the data associated with the refrigerated shippingcontainer includes an operational parameter of the refrigerated shippingcontainer.

In a further aspect, the method further comprises: receiving controldata, the control data used to control the operation of the refrigeratedshipping container; and sending the control data to the controller ofthe refrigerated shipping container, wherein the controller of therefrigerated shipping container alters the operation of the refrigeratedshipping container based on the control data. In one aspect, the controldata includes a temperature set point for the refrigerated shippingcontainer. A non-transitory computer readable medium containinginstructions which cause a processor to perform the steps of the methodis also disclosed.

In yet another embodiment, a system for communicating with arefrigerated shipping container is disclosed. The system may comprise: amonitoring and communications controller configured to communicate witha controller of a refrigerated shipping container to receive dataassociated with the refrigerated shipping container and send the dataassociated with the refrigerated shipping container to a data servercomputer; and the data server computer configured to receive the dataassociated with the refrigerated shipping container from the monitoringand communications controller and send the data associated with therefrigerated shipping container to a user.

In one aspect, the system may further comprise: the data server computerfurther configured to receive, from the user, control data used tocontrol the operation of the refrigerated shipping container; and themonitoring and communications controller further configured to receivethe control data from the data server computer and send the control datato the controller of the refrigerated shipping container, wherein thecontroller of the refrigerated shipping container alters the operationof the refrigerated shipping container based on the control data.

These and other embodiments of the invention are described in furtherdetail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a high level diagram of a system for use with embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary monitoring and communications device.

FIG. 3 depicts a controller being installed in a reefer.

FIGS. 4( a-d) depict exemplary screen shots of web pages.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary shipper interface.

FIG. 6 depicts the Homeport when the SMARTemp tab is activated.

FIG. 7 depicts a detailed view of a single container.

FIG. 8 depicts a display of operational parameters associated with ashipping container.

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a screen used to update reefer operational parameters.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a computer apparatus.

FIG. 14 depicts a graphical view of a single container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for real time remote temperatureand humidity monitoring of environmentally sensitive cargo being shippedvia refrigerated shipping containers. Real time access to temperatureand humidity information, regardless of the location of the refrigeratedshipping container, provides greater visibility and protectioncapabilities over the environmentally sensitive cargo. Any variations inthe desired temperature and humidity of the cargo can be immediatelyaddressed by shipping personnel prior to the environmentally sensitivecargo sustaining damage. Embodiments of the invention continuouslymonitor the temperature and humidity of the refrigerated shippingcontainer and can immediately report any out of range conditions via avariety of communications facilities to a remote monitoring station.

In addition to reporting out of range conditions, embodiments of theinvention can also periodically report temperature and humidityinformation to a remote monitoring station. Such periodic reportingallows for a shipper to continuously track the environmental state ofthe cargo being shipped. The periodic reporting can be adjusted toconform with any applicable regulations regarding monitoring frequencyof environmentally sensitive cargo throughout the refrigerated shippingcontainer's voyage. Such periodic monitoring can reduce or eliminate theneed to download voyage temperature and humidity data from therefrigerated shipping container for post voyage validation.

Furthermore, real time monitoring is not limited to temperature andhumidity information only. Because embodiments of the invention directlyinterface with the refrigerated shipping container, any operational datarelated to the refrigerated shipping container can also be monitored andsent to a remote monitoring station on a periodic or out of range basis.Operational data can include information such as faults and alarmsgenerated by the refrigerated shipping container itself.

In some embodiments of the invention, remote control over therefrigerated shipping container is provided as well. A shipper mayremotely modify any of the operational characteristics of therefrigerated shipping container without requiring physical access to thecontainer. Operational characteristics such as temperature and humiditycan be set while the refrigerated shipping container is mid voyagewithout requiring intervention of shipping personnel.

All of the above advantages of embodiments of the invention are achievedwithout requiring any permanent modification to the refrigeratedshipping container itself. Because embodiments of the invention directlyinterface with the refrigerated shipping container, there is no need forthe installation of instrumentation, such as temperature and humidityprobes. All of the necessary information can be retrieved from therefrigerated shipping container itself. Thus, a shipper may convenientlyinstall and remove embodiments of the invention from the refrigeratedshipping container without permanently altering the container, which isadvantageous in cases where the shipper may not be the actual owner ofthe shipping container. Furthermore, there is advantageously no need toinstall an embodiment of the invention on every refrigerated shippingcontainer used by the shipper, as the invention can be moved fromcontainer to container as needed.

These, and other advantages of the invention will be described infurther detail below with respect to FIGS. 1-14.

Prior to discussing the specific embodiments of the invention, a furtherdescription of the term “operational parameter” is provided for a betterunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, an“operational parameter” can refer to any aspect related to the operationof a shipping container. Typically an operational parameter will referto an environmental aspect of a shipping container, although otherembodiments can refer to other aspects. Examples of an operationalparameter can include, but is not limited to, temperature, humidity, airpressure, lighting, and air quality (e.g., the mixture or presence ofcertain gases). Operational parameters can also refer to the status ofthe components of the shipping container, such as the status of thecompressors, cooling fans, coolant flow, coolant temperature, supplyvoltage, temperature and humidity set points, cargo door status, or anyother similar aspect.

An operational parameter can be represented in any number of ways. Insome cases, an operational parameter can be represented with a value,often times numeric based. For example, temperature can be representedaccording to various metrics, such as Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin, orany other temperature scale. In yet other cases, an operationalparameter can be represented with a status indication. Such statusindications can identify whether the operational parameter is in a faultstate or not. An operational parameter above or below a certain setvalue is an example of a fault state. A door that is open is anotherexample of a fault state. A derivative of an operational parameter candepend on the operational parameter in any suitable manner. For example,a data interface can read in an operational parameter (e.g.,temperature) in Celsius and then transmit the same operational parameterin Fahrenheit.

In some cases, the operational parameter can represent a current valueof the operational parameter. For example, the cargo temperature canrepresent a temperature value measured from within the container.Alternatively, an operational parameter can represent a desired value,such as a temperature value a shipper sets to define the temperature thecontainer should be maintained at.

Exemplary Shipping Operation

In an exemplary reefer shipping operation, a shipper that needs totransport goods requiring temperature and humidity control will notify ashipping agent. If the shipper does not own a reefer, the shipping agentmay arrange to have an empty reefer delivered to the shipper. In somecases, the shipping agent may provide an empty reefer that is owned bythe shipping agent. In other cases, the reefer may be owned by theshipping line (e.g. ship, rail, truck) that may eventually be involvedin transporting the reefer. What should be understood is that the actualownership of the reefer could be one of many different parties.Embodiments of the present invention advantageously allow for remotemonitoring of reefers without requiring any permanent modifications tothe reefer itself. Because no permanent modifications are required, itis generally not necessary to obtain permission from the owner of thereefer in order to utilize embodiments of the invention.

The shipper may load the reefer with the goods that are being shipped.The shipper may set the desired temperature and/or humidity of thereefer and then contact the shipping agent. The shipping agent will thenarrange for the reefer to be transported to the desired destination. Inmany cases, the shipper is unaware, and in fact, may not care, whatmodes of transport are used to deliver the reefer to the desireddestination. Any combination of ship, rail, or road is satisfactory.

One problem that can arise in a typical reefer shipping operation isthat once the container has left the presence of the shipper, theshipper no longer has the ability to directly monitor or modify thetemperature and/or humidity or other parameters within the container. Ifa malfunction occurs in the reefer, the first indication may be when thecontainer is opened at the destination and it is discovered that thecargo has spoiled, or is otherwise unsatisfactory. Most reefers have theability to log the temperature and/or humidity at various timeintervals, and this historical data can be accessed via a data interfaceon the reefer. However, this historical data is only useful for showingwhen the failure occurred, it does nothing to alleviate the fact thatthe cargo is unusable.

In some cases, personnel are assigned to periodically monitor the reeferwhile it is in transit to record the temperature and/or humidity beingreported by the reefer. If an out of range condition is discovered, thepersonnel can take corrective action. However, even in such cases, afailure of the reefer will not be discovered until the time for theperiodic monitoring occurs. If the period for monitoring is severalhours, the cargo may spoil before reefer failure is noticed.Furthermore, under some conditions, it may not be possible for regularmanual monitoring of reefers. For example, when traveling aboard a ship,reefers are typically loaded at the top of the stack of containers toprovide sufficient cooling for the refrigeration components. Under roughseas, it may not be possible to send personnel to the reefer locationsbecause of safety concerns.

There have been some attempts at remote monitoring of temperature and/orhumidity of a reefer, however each of these attempts has significantlimitations. For example, monitor units that use Power LineCommunications (PLM) on board a ship to read the temperature and/orhumidity of the reefer exist. However, this type of monitoring assumesthat the reefer owner (who is not necessarily the shipper) has installedthe proper equipment. This also requires that the reefer be transportedvia a conveyance that supports PLM technology. Because the shipper doesnot necessarily control the particular forms of transport, or themonitoring capabilities thereof, solutions that are dependent oncapabilities residing external to the reefer are not optimal.

Other attempts at self contained remote monitoring of temperature and/orhumidity require modifications to be made to the reefer. For example,installation of temperature and humidity probes may be required. Asexplained above, the actual owner of the reefer in many cases isdifferent than the shipper. Modifications to the reefer will requirepermission of the reefer owner, who may be unwilling to grant suchpermission.

Embodiments of the invention over come these and other disadvantages ofthe prior art and will be described in further detail with respect toFIGS. 1-14.

FIG. 1 depicts a high level diagram of a system for use with embodimentsof the invention. The system includes a container 102, power source 104,monitoring and communications controller 106, configuration computer108, satellite 110, ground station 112, data server 114, communicationsnetwork 116, and user computer 118.

Container 102 may be a refrigerated shipping container, which can bereferred to as a reefer container or reefer. A typical reefer containstwo main parts. The first is the container portion 102(c), in which theactual goods being shipped are stored. Typically the container portion102(c) is accessible via a set of doors (not shown) through which cargocan be loaded and unloaded. The container portion 102(c) is generallyconstructed of a rigid material, such as metal, to withstand the rigorsof shipping and stacking. The walls of the container portion 102(c) aregenerally insulated, such that the temperature within the containerportion can be maintained by the reefer unit 102(a), which is describedbelow.

The container portion 102(c) will typically be equipped with severaldifferent types of sensors. At minimum, the container portion 102(c) maybe equipped with temperature sensors to measure the ambient temperaturewithin the container portion. The container portion 102(c) may also beequipped with temperature sensors to measure the temperature of the airbeing supplied by the reefer unit 102(a), which may also be called thesupply temperature. There can be additional temperature sensors for theair returned to the reefer unit 102(a) after circulating through thecontainer, which may also be called the return temperature.

In addition to temperature sensors for sensing the ambient temperaturewithin the container portion 102(c), there may also be temperaturesensors that may be inserted into the cargo that is being shipped.Depending on the goods being shipped, regulations may require that notonly the temperature within the container be measured, but also thetemperature within the cargo itself. For example, the U.S. DrugAdministration (USDA) has regulations for shipping certain goods, suchas food and drug products, which requires the internal temperature ofthe cargo itself to be monitored.

In addition to temperature sensors, there may many other types ofsensors within the container portion 102(c). Humidity sensors, lightsensors, motion sensors, or other types of sensors may also be includedwithin the container portion 102(c). There may be sensors to indicate ifthe doors to the container portion 102(c) are open or closed, thephysical orientation of the container, or any number of other sensorsrelated to the container portion. Although any number of sensorsdesigned to monitor any number of physical conditions within thecontainer portion 102(c) are described, for purposes of simplicity ofexplanation, the disclosure will simply refer to temperature. However, aperson of skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, wouldunderstand that any number of different physical conditions can also bemonitored.

The various sensors described above will typically be connected to thereefer unit 102(a). What should be understood is that the varioussensors are part of the original design of the refrigerated shippingcontainer 102. The refrigerated shipping container 102 is specificallydesigned to accommodate these sensors. Any wiring or other connectionsbetween the sensors and the reefer unit 102(a) are designed such thatthe physical integrity of the container portion 102(c) is notcompromised. In other words, the sensors described above do not requireany modifications of the container portion 102(c) in order to utilizeembodiments of the present invention, as these sensors are part of theoriginal equipment of the refrigerated container 102.

Unlike some previous attempts at remote temperature and humiditymonitoring, embodiments of the present invention advantageously make useof sensors that are already installed in the refrigerated shippingcontainer 102. Thus, embodiments of the present invention do not sufferfrom the fact that additional sensors cannot be installed because theshipper (or the party desiring to monitor the container) does notactually own the container. Embodiments of the invention advantageouslydo not require the mounting of additional sensors or holes to be drilledin the container 102 to accommodate wiring for the additional sensors.Furthermore, embodiments of the invention advantageously read thetemperature from the same source as the reefer unit 102(a), thusassuring there is no discrepancy between the readings of the reefer unitand the remotely monitored temperature.

The second portion of container 102 may comprise reefer unit 102(a)which controls the environment of the container portion 102(c). Forexample, the reefer unit 102(a) can control the temperature and/orhumidity in the container portion 102(c). Thus, container 102 can be anenvironmentally controlled container. The reefer unit 102(a) istypically mounted on or integrated with the container portion such thatthe overall form factor of the combined unit conforms with standardizedshipping containers. Conforming to the form factor of standardizedshipping containers allows for reefers to be handled in the same way,using the same handling equipment, as containers that are notenvironmentally controlled.

Reefer unit 102(a) may include the components to physically conditionthe air within the container portion 102(c). The reefer unit 102(a) willtypically comprise electromechanical components, such as compressors,condensers, fans, or heating elements, that are used to physicallycondition the container environment. The various electromechanicalcomponents necessary to condition the air within a refrigeratedcontainer 102 would be known by a person of skill in the art and it isnot necessary to describe such components in further detail.

Reefer unit 102(a) may also include a reefer controller 102(b). Reefercontroller 102(b) generally comprises control logic to control operationof the electromechanical components of the reefer unit 102(a). Thereefer controller 102(b) may be responsible for determining when it isnecessary for the conditioning components to be activated. For example,the temperature sensors described above are typically connected to thereefer controller 102(b). In many cases, the reefer controller 102(b)allows for a temperature and/or humidity set point to be entered, andthe reefer controller will maintain the container portion at the desiredtemperature and/or humidity. In some cases, the reefer controller 102(b)will allow for a temperature and/or humidity range to be set, and thereefer controller will activate the conditioning equipment if thetemperature and/or humidity is out of range.

The reefer controller 102(b) is generally a sophisticated piece ofelectronic equipment that contains many of the same capabilities of ageneral purpose computer. For example, the reefer controller 102(b) maycontain a memory in which a history of measured temperatures may berecorded. The reefer controller 102(b) may also monitor the operationalparameters of the electromechanical conditioning components. Variousoperational parameters, such as the status of the compressors, coolingfans, coolant flow, coolant temperature, supply voltage (describedbelow), temperature and humidity set points, cargo door status, andother operational parameters may also be stored. The reefer controller102(b) may also be able to log to the memory any faults or alarms thatoccur within the reefer unit 102(a).

The reefer controller 102(b) will typically include an interface panelthrough which an operator may view and set the various operationalparameters of the refrigerated container. For example, the reefercontroller 102(b) may include a display which indicates the currenttemperature within the container portion 102(c). The interface panel mayalso include controls to allow the operator to set the operatingtemperature of the refrigerated container and to view the temperaturethat is currently set. The display panel may also present to theoperator any faults or alarms that currently exist within therefrigerated container 102. The operator may also control operation ofthe refrigerated container through the interface panel, such asinitiating a defrost sequence, turning the refrigeration equipment on oroff, and resetting or clearing alarms and faults. The operationalcapabilities of a reefer controller would be known to a person of skillin the art. An exemplary interface panel to a reefer controller is shownin FIG. 3.

Reefer controller 102(b) may include a data communications port, such asan RS232 serial interface, that allows the operational data of thecontainer 102 to be read by a computer or other suitably equippeddevice. Any suitable data interface, such as Ethernet, Firewire, USB, orthe like could also be used in place of a RS232 connection. What shouldbe understood is that the reefer controller 102(b) contains a datainterface that allows communication with an external system. Typically,the external system would be a computer, such as a laptop computer (notshown) that can be used to interface with the reefer controller 102(b).Through the data interface, the laptop computer can control allfunctions of the refrigerated container 102 in the same way as anoperator would control the refrigerated container using the interfacepanel.

The data interface would allow operational data, such as current settemperature, current temperature of the interior of the container, doorstatus, alarm and fault status of the conditioning equipment, and anyother data related to the operation of the refrigerated container to bedisplayed on the laptop. The data interface would also allow operationalparameters of the refrigerated container to be updated from the laptop.Control data, such as the temperature set point, resetting of alarms,and other such parameters can be entered into the laptop. The controldata can then be sent to the reefer controller 102(b) through the datainterface, and the reefer controller will alter the operation of therefrigerated container based on the control data. Put more simply, allthe functions available from the interface panel, and more, are madeavailable to an external system through the data interface.

Reefer unit 102(a) may be connected to power source 104. Power source104 provides power for the operation of the reefer unit 102(a). Powersources can include ship board power 104(a) for power provided by a shiptransporting the container 102. Power sources can also include yardpower 104(b) which can include any power source provided by a locationin which the container is currently located. Power sources can alsoinclude generator power 104(c) which includes any power source that isassociated with the container 102. In some cases, generator power 104(c)may come from a generator attached to the container.

The reefer typically obtains power for operation from an externalsource. For example, a reefer traveling aboard a ship may receive powerfrom a shipboard source. A reefer sitting in a yard may receive powerfrom a yard source. In some cases, the reefer may receive power from agenerator, also referred to as a gen-set. The gen-set may be locatednear the reefer, or in some cases mounted on the reefer itself. Thegen-set typically contains an internal combustion engine coupled to agenerator for generating electrical power. The specific source of powerfor the reefer is relatively unimportant, except to note that the reeferunit 102(a) requires power for operation.

The system may also include monitoring and communications controller106, which can also be referred to as the controller. Controller 106 mayinclude power interface 106(a) which is coupled to and receives powerfrom power source 104. In some embodiments, a Y-Connector is used toroute power for both the reefer unit 102(a) and the controller 106. Whatshould be understood is that as long as reefer unit 102(a) is receivingpower from any source, controller 106 will also receive power. In someembodiments, controller 106 may also have an auxiliary power source,such as a battery (not shown), to provide power when the reefer unit102(a) is not receiving power.

Power interface 106(a) may contain appropriate components, such astransformers, regulators, and rectifiers, to condition the powerprovided by power source 104 to the form needed by controller 106. Forexample, reefers are typically powered by 24 volts AC, whereascontroller 106 may require 5 or 12 volts DC. Power interface 106(a) mayhandle any necessary conversions. In one embodiment, power interface106(a) may take from 18-36 volts AC and covert this to 5 volts DC asrequired by monitoring and communications controller 106. It should beunderstood that the power interface 106(a) can be customized dependingon the source of the power and the requirements of the monitoring andcommunications controller 106.

Controller 106 may also contain data interface 106(b). Data interface106(b) may be operatively coupled to the reefer controller 102(b) inorder to read the temperature and humidity, or other operational data,of the container 102. Data interface 102(b) may also be used to sendcontrol data to the reefer controller 102(b). As explained above, thereefer controller 102(b) may contain a data communications port to allowaccess to an external system. It is through the data interface 106(b)that the monitoring and communications controller 106, an externalsystem, interfaces with the reefer controller 102(b).

Although data interface 106(b) and the data interface on the reefercontroller 102(b) may use a standard protocol, such as RS232, firewire,USB, or the like, at the lower communication layers, the protocol usedat the application layer is typically proprietary to the manufacturer ofthe refrigerated container. In other words, although different reefermanufacturers may use the same type of interface (e.g. RS232) the actualformat of the information provided from the reefer controller 102(b) mayvary between the manufacturers. The particular format for control data,which alters the operation of the reefer controller 102(b), may also bedifferent between different reefer manufacturers.

Many reefer manufacturers will provide the specific protocol used bytheir reefers if it is requested. Although, even in a case where themanufacturer is not willing to provide the protocol, it can be obtainedthrough other means, such as analyzing the communications from thereefer data interface and reverse engineering the protocol. However, forpurposes of this disclosure, it is assumed that the specific protocolused for communication with reefers from different manufacturers isknown.

Data interface 106(b) may also provide an interface for connection toconfiguration computer 108. Configuration computer 108 may be used toprogram the various functions of controller 106. For example, controller106 may need to be configured to properly communicate with reefercontroller 102(b). As described above, each reefer manufacturer may usea proprietary protocol to communicate using the reefer data interface.Through configuration computer 108, the controller 106 can be providedwith the type of reefer that it is being connected to, such that thecontroller is able to use the correct protocol when communicating withthe reefer.

However, it should be understood that the configuration computer 108 isnot the only way that the correct protocol can be determined. In someembodiments, the controller 106 may attempt communications with thereefer 102 by cycling through the protocols used by the different reefermanufacturers. If the controller 106 does not receive the responseexpected according to the protocol currently being tested, thecontroller can determine it is using the wrong protocol. The controller106 can then try to communicate using a different protocol and repeatthe process. The controller 106 will eventually try the correct protocoland can establish communications or will be able to determine thatcommunications cannot be established.

Configuration computer 108 may be used to configure satellitetransmitter 106(e) for proper communication. Although FIG. 1 depicts asatellite 110 communications link, it should be understood that anynumber of other communications facilities are usable with embodiments ofthe invention. Alternative communications methods will be describedbelow. Regardless of the particular type of communications, theconfiguration computer 108 may be used to configure the controller 106for proper communications. For example, in the case of satellitecommunications, the controller may need to be configured with properfrequency and channel assignments in order to communicate with thesatellite 110.

Controller 106 may be configured to report temperature and/or humidityand operational parameters periodically, or when certain thresholds areexceeded. Configuration computer 108 may be used to set the periodicreporting interval or the threshold values. It should be understood thatconfiguration computer 108 is only needed to initially configure thecontroller. Once the initial configuration is complete, configurationcomputer 108 may be disconnected and the controller may operateautonomously.

Controller 106 may also include a processor 106(c) which is coupled tonon-transitory, tangible, computer readable medium 106(d). Medium 106(d)may store a set of instructions that are executed by the processor toperform the functions of the controller 106. It should be understoodthat processor 106(c) and medium 106(d) are intended to describe generalcontrol circuit functionality, and are not limited to embodiments withseparate processing and storage components. Processor 106(c) is intendedto describe any form of control circuit that may be used to implementembodiments of the invention.

In one embodiment, the processor 106(c) is a MSP 430 micro controllerfrom Texas Instruments™. In a different embodiment, the processor may bea 80188 processor from Intel™. Alternative processors may come fromAMD™. What should be understood is that the specific control circuitused by the controller 106 is generally not important as long as thecontrol circuit is able to implement the capabilities that are describedwithin the instant disclosure.

Processor 106(c) may be programmed to periodically read the temperatureand/or humidity information and other operational parameters from reefercontroller 102(b) through data interface 106(b). In some embodiments,processor 106(c) is programmed to autonomous updates from the reefercontroller 102(b). The processor may be programmed to periodicallyreport the operational parameters of the reefer to a remote server 114(described below). The processor may also be programmed to report anoperational parameter immediately upon the occurrence of an out of rangecondition of any of the operational parameters.

Processor 106(c) may also be coupled via a communications interface tosatellite transmitter 106(e). Processor 106(c) may send the temperatureand/or humidity readings and operational data to satellite transmitter106(e). In some embodiments, satellite transmitter 106(e) is integratedwithin controller 106, while in other embodiments, satellite transmitter106(e) may be a standalone device that interfaces with controller 106.For example, in one embodiment, satellite transmitter 106(e) is anIridium™ 9601 SBD transceiver. The 9601 transceiver is a small,low-cost, Iridium™-manufactured OEM module for integration by Iridium™registered partners into a wide variety of applications using theIridium Short Burst Data Service. It can be used for monitoring, alarms,and tracking.

Although the above description specifies a transmitter only, it shouldbe understood that this is for purposes of clarity of explanation. Thetransceiver, as the name implies, also contains a receiver for receivingdata from a remote location. Operation of controller 106 when using thereceiver is described further below. However, it should be understoodthat embodiments of the invention may operate in a transmit only mode.

Satellite transmitter 106(e) may receive the temperature and/or humidityreadings and other operational parameters and transmit the informationto satellite 110 orbiting the Earth. Satellite 110 may then relay thereadings to ground station 112. Ground station 112 may be coupled todata server 114. Communication between a satellite transmitter 106(e)and a ground station 112 is conventional and is thus not described ingreat detail.

Although the above description is in terms of a satellite communicationssystem, a person of skill in the art, given the benefit of thisdisclosure, would understand that embodiments of the invention are notlimited to satellite communications. Other possibilities, such as WiFi,WiMax, 3G cellular, 4G cellular, LTE, and other forms of wirelesscommunication have also been contemplated. The particular form ofcommunication used may be dependent on the mode of transport being used.For example, a reefer 102 on board a ship in the middle of the oceanwill typically need to use satellite communications, as no other form ofcommunications may be available. Whereas a reefer 102 being transportedby rail may have access to any or all of the above exemplarycommunications systems.

In some embodiments, the controller 106 may be equipped to communicateusing more than a single form of communication. For example, thecontroller may be equipped with both a satellite transmitter and a 3Gcellular transmitter. The controller 106 can be programmed to use themost cost effective communications available. As satellitecommunications are typically more expensive than cellularcommunications, the controller 106 can be configure to use the 3Gcellular transmitter when available (e.g. while the container is onland) and use the satellite transmitter 106(e) only when the 3G cellularcommunications are unavailable (e.g. while the container is at sea).Other combinations of communications facilities would be readilyapparent to one of skill in the art given the benefit of the presentdisclosure.

Data server 114 may receive the operational parameters and store theoperational parameters in a database (not shown). In addition, dataserver 114 may provide one or more web pages where the temperatureand/or humidity readings may be viewed. The web pages may be accessiblethrough the internet 116 by a user computer 118. The web pages may bedisplayed using a browser application running on the user computer 118.In some embodiments, the data may be sent to user computer 118 in othersuitable formats, such as an XML document or a spreadsheet file. Anysuitable from of transmitting the data to user computer 118 has beencontemplated.

In operation, container 102 will be laden with cargo that requirestemperature and/or humidity control. Controller 106 will periodicallyread the temperature and/or humidity and other operational parametersthrough the reefer controller 102(b). In some embodiments, the readingsare taken continuously, while in other embodiments the readings aretaken every several seconds, several minutes, every several hours, orany combination thereof. Controller 106 may then compare the readings toparameters that were configured by configuration computer 108 todetermine if the readings should be sent to satellite transmitter106(e). In some embodiments, the readings are sent periodically, such asat least every second, every minute, every hour, every 2 hours, every 4hours, or once a day. The time interval for periodic reporting iscompletely configurable by the user. In some embodiments, controller 106may include a real-time clock (not shown) such that the controller maybe configured to report at certain absolute times of day. For example,at the beginning, middle, or end of every hour, or at certain specifiedtimes of day. In addition, controller 106 may report the readings uponcertain out of range conditions. For example, if a certain temperatureset point is desired, temperature readings outside a configured rangemay be immediately reported. For example, temperature readings at least1 degree, 2 degrees, 5 degrees, or 10 degrees outside the configuredrange may be reported immediately.

If controller 106 determines that temperature and/or humidity readingsor other operational parameters should be reported, the data is sent tosatellite transmitter 106(e). Satellite transmitter 106(e) transmits thedata to satellite 110 which then relays the data to ground station 112.Ground station 112 then sends the data to data server 114. Data server114 can present the data to user computer 118 through a web page. Theweb pages will be described in further detail with respect to FIGS. 4(a-d) and FIGS. 5-8.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for several advantages.First, because controller 106 may be powered by the same source asreefer unit 102(a), as long as the reefer unit 102(a) has power,controller 106 will be operational. In practice, this means that theshipper is no longer dependent on facilities provided by the ship, yard,or other transport means for supporting remote temperature and/orhumidity monitoring. In other words, if the reefer 102 is operational,regardless of where it is, the controller 106 will also be operational.In addition, because the controller 106 is self contained, and requiresno permanent modifications to the reefer 102, the shipper is notdependent on the owner of the reefer installing any additionalequipment. The shipper can install the controller independently of thereefer owner.

Furthermore, because the controller may be able to communicate withreefers from different manufacturers, the shipper does not need tomaintain different controllers for different types of reefers. The samecontroller may be removed from one reefer and installed on a differentreefer, thus minimizing the expense associated with providing adifferent controller for each reefer manufacturer. Additionally,embodiments of the invention advantageously allow the shipper todetermine the time interval for reporting. Thus, the shipper is nolonger dependent on a manual reading of the reefer, over which theshipper has no control.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary monitoring and communications device. All ofthe components of controller 106 as described with respect to FIG. 1 maybe contained within housing 202. The housing may be made of a durablematerial that is capable of withstanding the potentially harshenvironmental conditions that may be experienced by a reefer in transit.For example, the housing may be made of an impact resistant material.During reefer handling operations, such as loading or unloading from aship, truck, or train, the housing 202 may protect the controller frominadvertent damage. The housing 202 may also be watertight, as there isalways the possibility that the reefer will be exposed to inclementweather during transit.

Emerging from housing 202 are several cables that may be used tointerface with the reefer unit or external world. Cable 206 may emergefrom the data interface 106(b) of the controller in order to beconnected to the data communications port (or any other communicationsocket or plug) of the reefer controller. Cable 206 may have a connector205 that is compatible with the connector that forms the data interfaceof the reefer controller. In some embodiments (not shown) cable 206 maybe equipped with multiple connectors of different types in order to becompatible with different manufacturers of reefers.

Also emerging from housing 202 may be power cable 204, such as, forexample, a 24 volts, alternating current (VAC) power cable. As describedabove, power from the controller can be provided from multiple sources.Power cable 204 is used to supply the controller with electrical powerrequired for operation.

Finally, antennae 208 may emerge from housing 202. The antennae isneeded for wireless communication. The particular type of antennae maybe dependent on the particular communications facility that is beingused. For example, a cellular 3G antennae may be different than asatellite antennae.

The device shown in FIG. 2 is meant to be exemplary. Embodiments of theinvention are not limited to the physical configuration described above.For example, in some cases, the power 204 and data interface 206 cablesmay be integrated into a single cable, while the antennae may beintegrated within the housing 202. A person of skill in the art wouldrecognize alternate configurations given the benefit of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts a controller 302 being installed in a reefer. Controller302 may be of the type that was described with respect to FIG. 2. Anexemplary reefer controller is shown in FIG. 3. As described above, areefer controller includes an interface panel that allows an operator toconfigure the reefer. Operator input panel 304 may allow the operator toinput parameters such as temperature and humidity set points and tocontrol other functions of the reefer. Displays 306 may allow theoperator to view the current temperature within the reefer container aswell as what the current temperature set point is.

Alarm indicators 308 may display to the operator if there are any faultconditions that currently exist within the reefer. The operation of thereefer controller is conventional and need not be described in greatdetail. What should be understood is that controller 302 may beinstalled onto the reefer controller with no permanent modificationrequired. The controller is simply connected to the reefer controllervia the cables describe in FIG. 2 and the housing is secured to thereefer. Advantageously, no physical modifications to the reefer arerequired.

FIGS. 4( a-d) depict exemplary screen shots of web pages. The web pagesmay be provided by data server 114. FIG. 4( a) depicts an exemplaryscreen showing all containers that are being monitored in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4( a) depicts someexemplary data that may be displayed, such as the shipper ID 402, whichidentifies a particular shipper, a container ID 404 which identifies aspecific container, a time 406, which indicates the time of the datareading, a temperature 408, which indicates the temperature at the timeof the reading, a temperature set 410, which indicates the set point forthe temperature, a humidity 412, which indicates the humidity at thetime of the reading, and a humidity set 414, which indicates the setpoint for the humidity. It should be understood that the data displayedis merely exemplary. Any data provided by the controller may also bedisplayed.

FIG. 4( a) depicts a web page that shows all data that is received bydata server 114, across all times. It should be noted that the variouscontainers could be located anywhere in the world, and that all thecontainers are not necessarily in the same place. Furthermore, all ofthe containers depicted in FIGS. 4( a-d) may not be part of the sameshipment or belong to the same shipper. FIG. 4( b) depicts a web pagethat is similar to FIG. 4( a) except that only the data for a singleshipper, with the ID 416 of 007 is shown. In typical operation, theshipper will be presented with a portal web page in order to restrictthe displayed data to only that which is relevant to the particularshipper. An exemplary portal is shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 14. As shown inFIG. 4( b), only the data related to shipper ID 007 is displayed. It canbe seen that this shipper has two reefers 418, 420 in transit with IDs111111 and 222222. Looking at the time intervals 422, these two reefershave been configured to report their readings every 2 hours. AlthoughFIG. 4( b) depicts the data readings of multiple times, in someembodiments, only the latest time is shown.

FIG. 4( c) depicts another exemplary web page. Like in FIG. 4( b), thedata is filtered by a individual shipper ID 424, in this case, ID 007.The data is further filtered by a single container ID 426, in this case,ID 111111. FIG. 4( d) depicts the data for a different shipper, with theID 428 of 415. As can be seen from FIG. 4( d), this shipper hasconfigured controller 106 to report the temperature and/or humidityevery 30 minutes 430. In addition, as can be seen at time 01:07:00 432,shipper ID 415 may have configured his controller to report an out ofrange condition immediately upon occurrence, rather than waiting for thenext periodic reporting interval. In this way, the shipper can beinformed about an out of range condition as soon as it occurs, ratherthan waiting for the next periodic reporting interval.

Although several exemplary web pages have been described, it should beunderstood that this is not intended to be limiting. Any additionalordering of the displayed data has also been contemplated.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary shipper interface. The web page shown inFIG. 5 may be provided by a shipping line that physically transports thereefer containers. The exemplary web page shown in FIG. 5 is part of the“Homeport” interface offered by American President Lines (APL) which isrelated to the assignee of the present disclosure. Through the Homeport,an individual shipper can track the containers they are shippingthroughout the container's journey. It should be noted that thistracking is available for both refrigerated and non-refrigeratedcontainers. After an individual shipper has logged into the Homeport,the shipper may search for containers that are currently in transit. Theshipper is presented with search tools 502 to use in order to locate theparticular shipment of interest.

In the screen shot of FIG. 5, the shipper has chosen to search by the BLnumber 504, which identifies a particular shipment. The shipper may thenclick on various status tabs 506 to get information about the shipmentassociated with this particular BL number. As shown, the summary tab hasbeen activated. The summary tab displays the various entities 508involved with the shipment. The basic features of the APL Homeport areknown and it is not necessary to describe those features in great detailas they would be known to a person of skill in the art.

FIG. 6 depicts the Homeport when the SMARTemp tab is activated.SMARTemp™ is a trade name under which embodiments of the invention havebeen commercialized. When the SMARTemp 602 tab is activated, informationrelated to the remote monitoring of refrigerated containers isdisplayed. As explained with respect to FIG. 5, the shipper in FIG. 6has searched on a particular BL number. When the SMARTemp tab isactivated, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. As is shown, thisparticular shipment comprises two different containers 604, 606. Itwould be understood by a person of skill in the art that any individualshipment may require more than one container to provide sufficient spaceto transport the cargo.

Also displayed in FIG. 6 is the last temperature set point 608 reportedaccording by an embodiment of the invention. The display can furtherinclude the supply temperature 610, which is the temperature of the coldair as it leaves the reefer unit to circulate in the container. Thereturn temperature 612, which is the temperature of the air after itreturns to the reefer unit after circulating, is also displayed. Thedate and time 614 can also be displayed. Finally, the shipper is giventhe option 616 to view additional details on a particular reefer.

FIG. 7 depicts a detailed view of a single container. If a user clickson the details button 616 a display as shown in FIG. 7 is presented.Through this display, the shipper may obtain more detailed andhistorical information regarding the temperature and humidity data, aswell as a history of the reported data. As shown, the user is given theoption to filter 702 the data for a particular time range in order tolimit the amount of data that is shown.

The user is presented with much of the same information shown in FIG. 6,however rather than displaying only the latest reported value, allvalues in the specified time range 702 are displayed. Again, the usercan see the container ID 704, the set temperature 706, the supplytemperature 708, the return temperature 710, and the humidity 712. Inaddition, the user may be able to view any additional temperature data,such as the USDA required measurements 714, 716, 718. As explainedabove, in some shipping scenarios, regulations require that thetemperature of the actual cargo itself be monitored. As is shown in FIG.7, such monitoring was not required for this particular shipment. Thevarious USDA temperatures can include temperatures taken in differentparts of the cargo. The user is also able to view the time 720 each ofthe various measurements was made.

In some embodiments, the exemplary shipper interface may provide ashipper with information in a variety of formats. For example, oneembodiment may allow the shipper to view a display of graphicalinformation for tracking the containers they are shipping throughout thecontainer's journey. Such graphical information may provide informationin a manner that is easily and quickly understood. Such may be the casewhen the exemplary shipper interface provides graphical information in aformat that shows the values of operational parameters over time.

FIG. 14 shows a graphical display 1400 for operational parameters for anindividual container. A shipper may view such a graphical display, forexample, by logging into the Homeport interface and then searching forcontainers that are currently in transit and then selecting a specificcontainer of interest. When the container of interest is selected, theHomeport interface may provide a display for information regarding acontainer in a first format (e.g., information shown in text, see FIG.7). Alternatively, the shipper may select to view the informationregarding the container in a second format (e.g., graphicalinformation). The graphical display 1400 shown in FIG. 14 is an exampleof graphical information. As shown, graphical display 1400 is atwo-dimensional graph showing an operational parameter as a series ofconnected data points over an interval of time. Graphical display 1400shows series 1402 and 1404 over the same interval of time. Series 1402represents the various values for “Return Air” (e.g., the temperature ofthe air returned to the reefer unit after circulating through thecontainer) over time. Series 1404 represents the various values for“Supply Air” (e.g., the temperature of the air being supplied to thecontainer by the reefer unit) over time. Depending on the embodiment,series 1402 and 1404 can be visually distinguished from each otherusing, for example, different colors, different line patterns, or anyother visual distinction.

The graph shown in FIG. 14 is provided for purposes of illustration andshould not be understood as a limitation to other embodiments. Forexample, a graphical display may provide more or less informationaccording to other embodiments. In one way, a graphical display can showadditional or fewer data series. The graphical display may show ahumidity time series, cargo temperature series, or any other seriesbased on data described herein. Further, the graphical display may showa data series that is a function of one or more operational parameters.Such a data series can, for example, show the rate of change of anoperational parameter (e.g., return air or USDA temperature values) as afunction of another operational parameter (e.g., supply air temperaturevalues). Poor rate of change can signal an operational problem with thecontainer, which may be caused by various factors. For example, thelocation of a container, damage to or leaks in the container, orimproper operation may make it difficult to maintain a desiredoperational environment for the reefer. In one way, a data seriesmeasuring the rate of change of an operational parameter in relationshipto another operational parameter can then be used to identify problemsin the system with respect to a container.

FIG. 8 depicts a display of operational parameters. As described above,the controller 102(b) is not limited to reading temperature and humiditydata from the reefer. Through the data port on the reefer, anyoperational parameter that is available to the reefer controller 102(b)can also be sent to the remote data server 114 for presentation to theuser. As described above, operational parameter can include anyinformation that is available to the reefer controller. Some exemplarypieces of such information are shown in FIG. 8, however it should beunderstood that this data is merely exemplary and is not intended to belimiting.

As shown in FIG. 8, operational parameters that may not be directlyrelated to the temperature and/or humidity within the reefer containermay also be presented to the user. Some examples of such data caninclude the status of the door 802 indicating if the container door isopened or closed. In addition, operational status of the conditioningequipment 804 may also be displayed. For each operational parameter, anindication 806 may be provided to indicate if the particular parameteris operating normally or is in a fault condition, such as out of rangeor an alarmed state. Such information, for example, may be similar tothe status information 308 described in FIG. 3. In addition, theoperational parameter can include information such as the current setpoints 808 for the temperature and humidity of the reefer.

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The process begins at step 902 wherein the data is read fromthe reefer controller. As described earlier, the frequency of data beingread from the reefer controller is configurable by the user. The processthen continues to step 904 where it is determined if the data is out ofrange. As explained above, the range of allowable data values is alsoconfigurable by the user. If the data is out of range, the process goeson to step 906, wherein it is determined if out of range reporting hasbeen enabled by the user. In some cases, the user may not require an outof range condition to be reported immediately and is willing to waituntil the next periodic interval for reporting. If out of rangereporting is not enabled, the process continues to step 908 where it isdetermined if it is time for periodic reporting.

As mentioned above, the time interval for periodic reporting isconfigurable by the user. If it is not time for periodic reporting, theprocess returns to step 902 and begins again. If it is time for periodicreporting, or if the data is out of range and out of range reporting isenabled, the process continues on to step 910, wherein the data is sentvia the satellite to the data server. The process then returns to step902 and repeats.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention. The systemdepicted in FIG. 10 is essentially the same as the one depicted inFIG. 1. The difference being that instead of simply utilizing thetransmitter 106(e), FIG. 10 uses both the transmitter and a receiver106(f). As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the satellitecommunications system is provided by Iridium™ which allows for two waycommunications. Some embodiments of the invention utilize the two waycommunication in order to allow a remote user 118 to control theoperation of the reefer 102 without requiring physical access to theoperator interface panel of the reefer.

As explained above, the data interface on both the controller 106 andthe reefer controller 102(b) are capable of two way communications. Aremote user 118 accessing an interface screen, such as the one describedbelow in FIG. 11, may alter operational parameters of the reefercontroller 102(b). For example, the remote user 118 may change thetemperature set points, resent alarms, or even turn the reefer unit102(b) off. The remote user enters the desired operational changes andsubmits the changes to the data server 114. The updates to theoperations of the reefer 102 may be called control data. The controldata is then sent, via the satellite 110 to satellite receiver 106(f) ofthe controller 106. The control data is then processed by the processor106(c) to translate the control data into the format required by thereefer 102.

As explained above, different manufacturers of reefers may use differentprotocols to control the reefer 102. Once the processor 106(c) hasconverted the control data to the protocol required by the reefercontroller 102(b), the processor, through the data interface 106(b) maysend the control data to the reefer controller 102(b). The reefercontroller 102(b) may then alter the operation of the reefer to conformto the newly updated control data.

FIG. 11 depicts a screen used to update reefer operational parameters.Just as with the other displays, the screen in FIG. 11 may presentidentification information 1102 for a particular reefer container. Thescreen may also display the operational parameter items 1104 of thereefer including the current state 1106. Such status is similar to thestatus described with respect to FIG. 8. For example, the operationalinformation can include an item identifier, such as “Coolant Temp.” andthe current status of that item. As shown in FIG. 11, the item “CoolantTemp.” is currently in an alarmed state. The user may then be allowed tomake various selections to update the operational state of the reefer.For example, in the case of an alarm, the user may be given the optionto reset 1108 the alarm.

In addition to alarm information, the user may also be able to updateoperational parameters such as the current temperature 1110 and humidity1112 set points. Thus, the shipper is advantageously allowed to alterthe temperature and humidity set points while the reefer is in transit,without requiring assistance from personnel associated with the ship,truck, or rail on which the container is being transported.

As should be clear, without an embodiment of the invention, if a shipperdesired to alter the temperature of his shipment, he would first need todetermine where the reefer is (e.g. ship, truck, train). The shipperwould then need to locate personnel associated with that entity, andsend those personnel instructions to alter the temperature of thereefer. In many cases, this communications is extremely difficult orimpossible. Furthermore, even if the communications with thetransporter's personnel is possible, there may be a delay in takingaction. For example, a reefer moving by train cannot be physicallyaccessed by shipping personnel while the train is in motion. Thus, evenif the instructions are received, the operational parameter of thereefer cannot be changed until the train has come to a stop. Embodimentsof the invention solve this problem by advantageously allowing directand immediate control of the reefer from users remotely located from thereefer.

It should be understood that not all operational parameters provided bythe reefer controller can be remotely updated. For example, containerdoor status 1114 may be indicated, but there is no way of remotelycontrolling the door. However, the information could still be utilized.For example, if the container door is open, the shipper may instruct thereefer to turn off, as there is no reason to provide refrigeration tothe container if all the cold air will escape from the open door.

Once the user has made any operation changes desired, the user may clickon a update 1116 button. This may cause the generation of control datawhich will be sent to the reefer controller 102(b) through the satellite110 and the controller 106 as was described above. The reefer controllermay then alter its operational parameter based on the control data.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The process starts at step 1202 in which control data from auser is received. As explained above, control data may be received froma user through an interface as described with respect to FIG. 11. Theprocess may then continue to step 1204 wherein the control data is sentvia a satellite. At step 1206 the control data may be received from thesatellite by the receiver of the controller. At step 1208, thecontroller may send the control data to the reefer controller. Asdescribed above step 1208 may also include modifying the control data toconform with the protocol expected by the reefer controller. At step1210 the reefer controller may update is operational parameters based onthe control data. This may include resetting alarms, alteringtemperature or humidity set points, or any number of other operationalitems on the reefer.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a computer apparatus. The components inthe computer apparatus may be present in any of the elements shown inany of the preceding figures. The subsystems shown in FIG. 13 areinterconnected via a system bus 1375. Additional subsystems such as aprinter 1374, keyboard 1378, fixed disk 1379 (or other memory comprisingcomputer readable media), monitor 1376, which is coupled to displayadapter 1382, and others are shown. Peripherals and input/output (I/O)devices, which couple to I/O controller 1371, can be connected to thecomputer system by any number of means known in the art, such as serialport 1377. For example, serial port 1377 or external interface 1381 canbe used to connect the computer apparatus to a wide area network such asthe Internet, a mouse input device, or a scanner. The interconnectionvia system bus allows the central processor 1373 to communicate witheach subsystem and to control the execution of instructions from systemmemory 1372 or the fixed disk 1379, as well as the exchange ofinformation between subsystems. The system memory 1372 and/or the fixeddisk 1379 may embody a computer readable medium.

It should be understood that the present invention as described abovecan be implemented in the form of control logic using computer softwarein a modular or integrated manner. Based on the disclosure and teachingsprovided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know andappreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the present inventionusing hardware and a combination of hardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication, may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java, C++ or Perl using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques.

The software code may be stored as a series of instructions, or commandson a computer readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard-drive or afloppy disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. Any such computerreadable medium may reside on or within a single computationalapparatus, may be present on or within different computationalapparatuses within a system or network. It may also reside whollyoutside of any computer apparatus in some embodiments. A computerreadable medium may be embodied by one or more volatile and/ornon-volatile memory devices using any suitable optical, electrical,and/or magnetic means of data storage.

The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should,therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description,but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claimsalong with their full scope or equivalents.

For example, it should be understood that containers can have any numberof reefer controllers to monitor various operational parameters of thecontainer. To illustrate, a container can include a first reefercontroller to monitor temperature and humidity, as described above, anda second reefer controller to monitor atmosphere of the container.Monitoring the atmosphere can include reading the levels of oxygen,carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, or any other similarquality of atmosphere. Such a second reefer controller can be installedon the same or separate reefer unit. For example, a second reefer unitcan be installed at an air vent of the container.

The controller 106, in some embodiments, can be operatively coupled totwo separate reefer controllers. For example, the controller 106 can beoperatively coupled to a first reefer controller (e.g., 102(b)) thatmonitors temperature and humidity using one data interface (e.g., aRS232 serial interface, firewire, USB, or wireless interfaces). Inaddition, the controller 106 can be operatively coupled to a secondreefer controller (not shown) that monitors atmosphere through the sameor different types interface (e.g., a wireless interface, such asBluetooth, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11, or any other similar wirelesscommunication to support a wireless mesh network). Using a singlecontroller to obtain operational parameters from multiple reefercontrollers provides comparatively complete information regarding theenvironment of the container while limiting the setup and hardwarecosts.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one ormore features of any other embodiment without departing from the scopeof the invention.

A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more”unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

All patents, patent applications, publications, and descriptionsmentioned above are herein incorporated by reference in their entiretyfor all purposes. None is admitted to be prior art.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A removable apparatus for communicating with ashipping container comprising: a power interface configured to becoupled to a power source to provide electrical power to the removableapparatus; a data interface configured to be coupled with a datacommunications port on the shipping container, the data interfaceconfigured to communicate with a first controller and a secondcontroller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller andthe second controller of the shipping container monitor at least oneoperational parameter associated with the shipping container and thefirst controller and the second controller are connected to one or moresensors of the shipping container; a communications interface coupled toa transmitter; and a control unit configured to receive, via the datainterface, an operational parameter associated with the shippingcontainer from the first controller or the second controller of theshipping container, the control unit further configured to determinethat the operational parameter associated with the shipping containerand received from the first controller or the second controller of theshipping container, should be transmitted, the control unit is furtherconfigured to transmit the operational parameter, or a derivativethereof, associated with the shipping container, using thecommunications interface.
 22. The removable apparatus of claim 21wherein the control unit is configured to determine that the operationalparameter associated with the shipping container and received from thefirst controller or the second controller of the shipping container,should be transmitted by determining that the operational parameter isoutside a predetermined range.
 23. The removable apparatus of claim 21wherein the data interface is configured to communicate with the firstcontroller and the second controller of the shipping container,regardless of the location of the shipping container.
 24. The removableapparatus of claim 21 wherein the operational parameter associated withthe shipping container includes set temperature, internal temperature,set humidity, internal humidity, air pressure, lighting, air quality,status of compressor, status of cooling fan, coolant flow, coolanttemperature, supply voltage, door status, or faults or alarms that occurwithin the shipping container.
 25. The removable apparatus of claim 21,the control unit configured to transmit the operational parameter realtime throughout the shipping container's journey regardless of thelocation of the shipping container.
 26. The removable apparatus of claim21 wherein the power interface is external to the movable apparatus andthe same source as used by the first controller or the second controllerof the shipping container.
 27. The removable apparatus of claim 21wherein the control unit is further configured to determine that theoperational parameter associated with the shipping container andreceived from the first controller or the second controller of theshipping container should be transmitted based on an out of rangereporting that has been enabled for the operational parameter.
 28. Theremovable apparatus of claim 21 further comprising: the communicationsinterface coupled to a receiver; and the control unit further configuredto receive, from the communications interface, control data to alter theoperation of the first controller or the second controller of theshipping container and transmit the control data to the first controlleror the second controller of the shipping container through the datainterface.
 29. The removable apparatus of claim 21 wherein the removableapparatus is physically isolated from an interior of the shippingcontainer.
 30. The removable apparatus of claim 21 wherein the apparatusis configured to be installed and removed from the shipping containerwithout permanently altering the container.
 31. The removable apparatusof claim 21 wherein the control unit is further configured to determinethe most effective communications available based on a mode of transportbeing used.
 32. A method for communicating with a shipping containercomprising: receiving, at a removable communications and monitoringdevice, an operational parameter associated with the shipping containerfrom a first controller or a second controller of the shippingcontainer, wherein the first controller and the second controller of theshipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associatedwith the shipping container and the first controller and the secondcontroller are connected to one or more sensors of the shippingcontainer; determining, by the communications and monitoring device,that the operational parameter received from the first controller or thesecond controller of the of the shipping container and associated withthe container should be transmitted to a receiving station; andtransmitting the operational parameter, or a derivative thereof,associated with the shipping container to the receiving station based onthe determination that the operational parameter received from the firstcontroller or the second controller of the shipping container andassociated with the container should be transmitted to a receivingstation.
 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising: receiving, at aremovable communications and monitoring device, power via a powerinterface configured to be coupled to a power source that is external tothe removable communications and monitoring device and the same sourceas used by a first controller or a second controller of the shippingcontainer to provide electrical power directly to the removablecommunications and monitoring device for the operation of the removablecommunications and monitoring device.
 34. The method of claim 32 furthercomprising: determining a correct protocol for communicating with thefirst controller and the second controller of the shipping container,wherein the removable communications and monitoring device is configuredto communicate with the first controller and the second controller ofthe shipping container, regardless of the location of the shippingcontainer.
 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising: establishingcommunications with the shipping container based on the determination ofthe correct protocol.
 36. The method of claim 32 wherein thecommunications and monitoring device is able to receive the operationalparameter directly from the first controller or the second controller ofthe shipping container real time during the shipping container's journeyregardless of the location of the shipping container, without having toinstall additional instrumentation within the interior of therefrigerated shipping container.
 37. The method of claim 32 furthercomprising: determining that the operational parameter associated withthe shipping container and received from the first controller or thesecond controller of the shipping container, is outside a predeterminedrange.
 38. The method of claim 32 further comprising: determining, bythe communications and monitoring device, that the operational parameterreceived from the first controller or the second controller of the ofthe shipping container and associated with the container should betransmitted to a receiving station by determining that an out of rangereporting has been enabled for the operational parameter.
 39. The methodof claim 32 further comprising: determining, by the communications andmonitoring device, the most effective communications available based ona mode of transport being used.
 40. The method of claim 32 wherein theoperational parameter is transmitted via the most effectivecommunications available.
 41. The method of claim 32 further comprising:receiving control data, the control data used to control the operationof the shipping container; and sending the control data to the firstcontroller or the second controller of the shipping container, whereinthe first controller or the second controller of the shipping containeralters the operation of the shipping container based on the controldata.
 42. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing thereon aset of instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computerto: receive an operational parameter associated with the shippingcontainer from a first controller or a second controller of the shippingcontainer, wherein the first controller and the second controller of theshipping container monitor at least one operational parameter associatedwith the shipping container and the first controller and the secondcontroller are connected to one or more sensors of the shippingcontainer; determine that the operational parameter received from thefirst controller or the second controller of the of the shippingcontainer and associated with the container should be transmitted to areceiving station; and transmit the operational parameter, or aderivative thereof, associated with the shipping container to thereceiving station based on the determination that the operationalparameter received from the first controller or the second controller ofthe shipping container and associated with the container should betransmitted to a receiving station.
 43. A system for communicating witha shipping container comprising: a monitoring a communicationscontroller configured to: receive an operational parameter associatedwith the shipping container from a first controller or a secondcontroller of the shipping container, wherein the first controller andthe second controller of the shipping container monitor at least oneoperational parameter associated with the shipping container and thefirst controller and the second controller are connected to one or moresensors of the shipping container; determine that the operationalparameter received from the first controller or the second controller ofthe of the shipping container and associated with the container shouldbe transmitted to a receiving station; and transmit the operationalparameter, or a derivative thereof, associated with the shippingcontainer to the receiving station based on the determination that theoperational parameter received from the first controller or the secondcontroller of the shipping container and associated with the containershould be transmitted to a receiving station; a data server configuredto: receive an operational parameter associated with the shippingcontainer from the monitoring and communications controller; and sendthe operational parameter associated with the shipping container to auser.